The Seventh-day Adventist Church acquired the property in Curitiba where the first Adventist school in Brazil operated. The acquisition ceremony took place on July 1, 2026. This date marks exactly 130 years since the opening of the International College of Curitiba.

The school was founded in 1896 by Guilherme Stein Júnior, the first Adventist baptized in Brazil, with only six students. The institution grew rapidly, eventually gathering around four hundred students and is considered the starting point of the Adventist Education Network in the country. Portuguese-German bilingual education served as an important factor in attracting immigrants from the southern region.

Antônio Marcos, director of the Adventist Education Network for eight South American countries, highlighted the symbolic value of the date.

"For many years, we have wanted to purchase this space, not for the space itself, but for what it represents for education and for the church. Today, our hearts overflow with joy and gratitude to God, understanding that the same God who has guided us this far will guide us into the future as well," he stated.

Alexander Dutra, associate director of the Adventist Education Network for eight countries of South America, spoke during the ceremony and recalled Stein's journey and that of the first students until the consolidation of the largest confessional educational network in Brazil. There were also expressions of gratitude to the people who helped make the purchase possible.

The space will be transformed into a historical center with furniture, objects, documents, and photographs documenting the network's history. There will be a room modeled after a small auditorium for classes and video screenings, as well as a support point for missionary initiatives. Professor Harryson Reis, director of Adventist Education for South Brazil Union Conference, described the proposal: "Our dream is that it will be a multi-activity environment. A place where the identity of Adventist education can be revisited. To arrive there and learn a little about our history, which is so broad and beautiful in our country. And also, to be able to experience a classroom from 1896."

The next steps include documentation, authorizations, licenses, cataloging of historical materials, and the preparation of technical projects. The most effective actions are expected to begin in the second half of 2027. Professor Neidi Laura, director of the Pinhais Adventist Academy, in the metropolitan region of Curitiba, summarized the feelings of those present.

"It is a pride to be part of this network, a network that has been blessed by God from the beginning. Right now, I will have been involved in Adventist education for 40 years, and I am proud, I have pleasure, I have immense joy in working in this network."

The choir from the Boqueirão Adventist Academy presented a song composed especially for the 130th anniversary. Participants in the event included Dr. Anneris Coria-Navia, associate director of Education at the General Conference (GC), the world headquarters of the Adventist Church; associate director Abel Apaza, GC; Uilson Garcia, president of the Brazilian Publishing House (CPB); and Fabiano Leichsenring, director of CPB Education.

The celebrations also reached the Bom Retiro Adventist School in Curitiba. The auditorium was decorated with scenes contrasting the before and after of Adventist Education, leading the audience to reflect on the expansion of the network over the decades. One of the highlights of the event was the baptism of student Pedro Reis, the son of teacher Harryson Reis. The baptismal ceremony was officiated by Pedro's uncle, Pastor Garcia, who serves at CPB. Finally, the choirs from Bom Retiro, Araucária, and Boqueirão joined together in a large chorus to close the event.

The original article was published on the South American Division Portuguese news site.